Post by MaidenOz on Oct 5, 2007 1:22:00 GMT 10
Hi all.
So, Wrathchild and myself went on our little expedition to the city of Melbourne on Monday to stake out some cheap accommodation for those who may need it coming from interstate and overseas. Twas a lovely day in our fine city, we had a damn good feed that left us so full, that I believe we may have released just enough endorphins to constitute a legitimate high.
We visited 3 hotel/hostels that were all within walking distance to Rod Laver arena. The walk is approx 10-15 mins along the banks of the Yarra river to get there, if you’re drunk on the way back after the gig that may change to 20-30 mins… depending on how stumbly you are, and how many times you fall over. Or you can catch the number 70 tram from Flinders street and save some time if you’re too lazy to walk.
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The first place we visited was the Flinders Station Hotel. www.flindersbp.com.au
It sits on top of a bar located on the second floor with a large balcony where you can sit and enjoy a bevy or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or…you get the picture….
On the ground floor is also a bottle shop to cater for your every alcoholic whim and desire. Just take note that it IS illegal to have an open alcohol container out in public streets in Victoria, but if you are behaving yourself and treat any approaching officers of the law respectfully, you may get away with simply being told to keep it concealed.
The girl at reception was a friendly and helpful young lass, but unfortunately we were not allowed (for security reasons) to take a look upstairs at the rooms and get some photos. (which actually turns out to be a bonus for you travelers here, they will not let just anyone wander up and root around in your stuff) Access to the rooms is through a security swipe card thingy.
On the same floor as reception is the communal kitchen, lounge/tv area, internet and games rooms. From what we could see of the kitchen it was kept very clean, in fact there were signs posted up stating that eviction from the hotel may result if you didn’t clean up after yourself, so there really isn’t much choice. Keep it clean or F*** off basically.
Across the road from the hotel is a 24 hour supermarket, public transport right at the front door and Melbourne’s central train station just across the road. There are take away food joints and pubs everywhere you look and for you shoppers… heaven awaits.
The hotel doesn’t accept guests who live in Melbourne so upon checking in you will need to provide a driver’s license if you’re coming from interstate, or a passport from overseas guests. There’s no lockout or curfew and reception is open 24hours.
All your bed linen is provided there are luggage storage and laundry facilities available. Each floor has shared bathroom facilities, and rooms range from 4 bed dorms(bunk beds) or rooms with a double or twin single beds available.
The 4 bed dorms are $25.00AU per night
Dbl/twin $70.00AU per night.
You get free breakfast daily
*free shuttle bus from the airport to the front door
and if you pay to stay for a week you get *FREE BEER.
(*conditions apply…you’ll have to email them to find out)
You can email your reservation or ask any questions at res@flindersbp.com.au , contact Simone.
This place actually had quite the fun & relaxed, casual vibe oozing off it, so imo I reckon you’d enjoy your stay there. It aint the Hilton, but it’s a cheap & comfortable place to stay while you’re here to see Maiden. It has a giant big share house feel to it, so you old farts will remember back to your college days, and you young ones will get a feel for what’s ahead of you.
February is still in their busy season, so it was suggested to us that if you wanted to book your stay there, try not to leave it too late. By the end of November is probably the latest you’d want to book to assure you have a room. There may also be a $20 security deposit which is refunded to you when you check out, provided you haven’t totally destroyed anything.
Go check out their website if you want to see more, or email/call them if you have any questions I haven’t answered here.
www.flindersbp.com.au
Email: res@flindersbp.com.au
ph: +61 3 9620 5100
fax: +61 9 9620 5101
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The 2nd place we visited was only a few doors up from the Flinders Station hotel.
This was Hotel Formule 1 Melbourne.
www.formule1.com.au
Email: H6371-re@accor.com
ph: +61 3 9642 0064
fax: +61 3 9642 2255
First impressions VERY CLEAN, and a much less busy and a quieter place than the previous.
Differing from the Flinders Station hotel, each room has it’s own little ensuite bathroom, so you are only sharing with the people you are staying with.
The rooms come as:
Standard: Which has a queen or double bed with an overhead single bunk. Sleeps 3 people max and room rate is $79.00AU Sunday to Thursday - $89.00AU Friday and Saturday.
Family room: Has a queen or double bed plus a set of bunks. Sleeps up to 4 people max and room rate is $89.00AU Sunday to Thursday $99.00AU Friday and Saturday.
Bunk room: Has 2 sets of bunks sleeps a max of 4 people see room rate for family room.
There are also Disabled access rooms, which have a queen or double bed plus 2 sets of bunks sleeping up to 6 people. Email them for room rates on that one.
Good idea to email them to inquire of their room rate for when you want to stay just to confirm these prices I’ve given. The girl at reception said they didn’t change their room rates according to on peak and off peak seasons like other hotels, but they may change for other reasons so best to email and confirm before you make a reservation. Good to note that the prices are PER ROOM PER NIGHT, rather than per person.
There is a communal kitchen available but I believe it’s a simple one, communal fridge, microwave, toaster, blender, tea/coffee making facilities etc. Not as extensive as the full kitchen provided at Flinders Station hotel. But functional and clean nonetheless.
A continental breakfast can be provided at an extra cost of $6 per person, but be sure to state that you want that included when making a reservation. There are also vending machines around the place with both hot and cold snacks available, and emergency toiletries as well. (shaving, shampoo all that kinda shit)
BONUS with this hotel is that all rooms are AIR CONDITIONED. With the February heat in Austraila being what it is…. this will come as a BLESSING!!!!
The Flinders Station hotel only provides oscillating pedestal fans and open windows, which if you’re not used to night temperatures between 17-23 degrees Celsius OUTSIDE in the open air, you may find it difficult to sleep without a full blown air con.
All in all, this place I would consider more upmarket than the Flinders Station, it isn’t considered a backpackers, just an inexpensive quality hotel without the luxuries. You DO get a tv in your room with PAY TV access if you’re in the mood for a little cable porn. Which reminds me…. they also have a self serve laundry facility available.
To sum up….This was a very good quality hotel for a very reasonable price.
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Next place…..
Comes with a Warning:
I would only stay here if I’d been robbed of everything else I owned and some bum just pissed in the last vacant garbage skip.
I am including a report on it here, purely for shits and giggles.
DO NOT STAY THERE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The Elephant Backpacker.
do a search on www.hostelworld.com for this one as they don’t have their own website built yet, that’s your first indication of how much this place is lacking.
Email: enquiries@elephantbackpacker.com
ph: +61 3 9654 2616
fax: +61 3 9663 7009
This one we WERE allowed to go up to check out a room and take a few photo’s.
Hardly worth it.
Let me just say this….
If you are an exhibitionist or a dirty perv, or both, this place might appeal to you.
If you value your privacy…steer clear of this one.
Below is a couple of photo’s Wrathchild took and let me just add….what you see is what you get and THAT’S ABOUT IT. Except for one thing. The photo of the twin room at $50.00AU per night doesn’t quite capture it all.
What it doesn’t capture….is the fact that none of the rooms actually have ceilings.
Like I said if you’re an exhibitionist or a dirty perv, this may just be akin to paradise for you…if not STEER THE HELL AWAY!!!
For you loving amorous couples visiting, who like to indulge in loving, amorous activities…. let me ASSURE you… EVERYONE on the entire floor will be treated to your performance for free. And the lucky ones with an adjoining room to yours may just be able to catch a front row seat for the floor show, should they want to stand on the end of their bed and take a peak over the wall.
Security wise…..pfft what F***ing security?
There is a lock on the door, and one of those school-style metal lockers in your room. However, since it’s not bolted to the floor as well, and should someone be stealthy, willing and able…you may find that when you come home, all your belongings have disappeared over the wall into the next room.
Bathrooms… well as you can see below, not the flashiest.
Well….if you are the dirty perv they may be, if you don’t mind there being no lock on the shower. Just a flimsy shower curtain separating you from the rest of the guests. Make sure you sing or make plenty of noise to let someone know you’re still naked in there.
Not much else to say except doubles and twin rooms are DEFINITELY not worth the $50.00 per night in fact I’d go so far as to call that, one very expensive joke. I’d even stretch out to say that without even having seen them, the single rooms are not worth the $40.00AU per night either.
But for those of you who are free spirited and uninhibited perhaps the $19.00AU per night with the exchange rate as it is for our overseas guests, it just MIGHT be worthwhile…..for a night…..maybe…..perhaps…..if you were desperate.
It wasn’t all bad. The guy at reception was just a wonderfully nice and helpful fella. Beautiful bloke.
But the hotel itself (if you can call it that) was just cheap and nasty, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you were DESPERATE, or a little flamboyant and experimental in your tastes. Not that there’s anything wrong with that… more power to you. Enjoy.
Don’t believe it could possibly be that bad?….. Take a look, I have photographic proof.
If upon our next visit to the city (which seemed to be emo central on the day) we happen to find more cheap available accoms, we shall endeavor to get more information to you.
If you’re looking for the lap of luxury with room service and all the trimmings like you might get at The Ritz Carlton, The Hilton, Crown Towers or The Sheraton Hotel…. might I humbly suggest that Google is your friend… and the two of you should become more intimately acquainted.
BTW… for a good cheap healthy feed in the form of vegetarian curry with rice and pappadums, sticky date polenta puddin & custard for dessert, and drinks (lassi, cordial, water) for all you can eat at $6.50AU…. visit the Hari Krishna’s at Crossways on Swanston street. Good eatin at a good price.
I wonder if they put in a few extra "secret herbs and spices" we don't know about...
So, Wrathchild and myself went on our little expedition to the city of Melbourne on Monday to stake out some cheap accommodation for those who may need it coming from interstate and overseas. Twas a lovely day in our fine city, we had a damn good feed that left us so full, that I believe we may have released just enough endorphins to constitute a legitimate high.
We visited 3 hotel/hostels that were all within walking distance to Rod Laver arena. The walk is approx 10-15 mins along the banks of the Yarra river to get there, if you’re drunk on the way back after the gig that may change to 20-30 mins… depending on how stumbly you are, and how many times you fall over. Or you can catch the number 70 tram from Flinders street and save some time if you’re too lazy to walk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first place we visited was the Flinders Station Hotel. www.flindersbp.com.au
It sits on top of a bar located on the second floor with a large balcony where you can sit and enjoy a bevy or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or…you get the picture….
On the ground floor is also a bottle shop to cater for your every alcoholic whim and desire. Just take note that it IS illegal to have an open alcohol container out in public streets in Victoria, but if you are behaving yourself and treat any approaching officers of the law respectfully, you may get away with simply being told to keep it concealed.
The girl at reception was a friendly and helpful young lass, but unfortunately we were not allowed (for security reasons) to take a look upstairs at the rooms and get some photos. (which actually turns out to be a bonus for you travelers here, they will not let just anyone wander up and root around in your stuff) Access to the rooms is through a security swipe card thingy.
On the same floor as reception is the communal kitchen, lounge/tv area, internet and games rooms. From what we could see of the kitchen it was kept very clean, in fact there were signs posted up stating that eviction from the hotel may result if you didn’t clean up after yourself, so there really isn’t much choice. Keep it clean or F*** off basically.
Across the road from the hotel is a 24 hour supermarket, public transport right at the front door and Melbourne’s central train station just across the road. There are take away food joints and pubs everywhere you look and for you shoppers… heaven awaits.
The hotel doesn’t accept guests who live in Melbourne so upon checking in you will need to provide a driver’s license if you’re coming from interstate, or a passport from overseas guests. There’s no lockout or curfew and reception is open 24hours.
All your bed linen is provided there are luggage storage and laundry facilities available. Each floor has shared bathroom facilities, and rooms range from 4 bed dorms(bunk beds) or rooms with a double or twin single beds available.
The 4 bed dorms are $25.00AU per night
Dbl/twin $70.00AU per night.
You get free breakfast daily
*free shuttle bus from the airport to the front door
and if you pay to stay for a week you get *FREE BEER.
(*conditions apply…you’ll have to email them to find out)
You can email your reservation or ask any questions at res@flindersbp.com.au , contact Simone.
This place actually had quite the fun & relaxed, casual vibe oozing off it, so imo I reckon you’d enjoy your stay there. It aint the Hilton, but it’s a cheap & comfortable place to stay while you’re here to see Maiden. It has a giant big share house feel to it, so you old farts will remember back to your college days, and you young ones will get a feel for what’s ahead of you.
February is still in their busy season, so it was suggested to us that if you wanted to book your stay there, try not to leave it too late. By the end of November is probably the latest you’d want to book to assure you have a room. There may also be a $20 security deposit which is refunded to you when you check out, provided you haven’t totally destroyed anything.
Go check out their website if you want to see more, or email/call them if you have any questions I haven’t answered here.
www.flindersbp.com.au
Email: res@flindersbp.com.au
ph: +61 3 9620 5100
fax: +61 9 9620 5101
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2nd place we visited was only a few doors up from the Flinders Station hotel.
This was Hotel Formule 1 Melbourne.
www.formule1.com.au
Email: H6371-re@accor.com
ph: +61 3 9642 0064
fax: +61 3 9642 2255
First impressions VERY CLEAN, and a much less busy and a quieter place than the previous.
Differing from the Flinders Station hotel, each room has it’s own little ensuite bathroom, so you are only sharing with the people you are staying with.
The rooms come as:
Standard: Which has a queen or double bed with an overhead single bunk. Sleeps 3 people max and room rate is $79.00AU Sunday to Thursday - $89.00AU Friday and Saturday.
Family room: Has a queen or double bed plus a set of bunks. Sleeps up to 4 people max and room rate is $89.00AU Sunday to Thursday $99.00AU Friday and Saturday.
Bunk room: Has 2 sets of bunks sleeps a max of 4 people see room rate for family room.
There are also Disabled access rooms, which have a queen or double bed plus 2 sets of bunks sleeping up to 6 people. Email them for room rates on that one.
Good idea to email them to inquire of their room rate for when you want to stay just to confirm these prices I’ve given. The girl at reception said they didn’t change their room rates according to on peak and off peak seasons like other hotels, but they may change for other reasons so best to email and confirm before you make a reservation. Good to note that the prices are PER ROOM PER NIGHT, rather than per person.
There is a communal kitchen available but I believe it’s a simple one, communal fridge, microwave, toaster, blender, tea/coffee making facilities etc. Not as extensive as the full kitchen provided at Flinders Station hotel. But functional and clean nonetheless.
A continental breakfast can be provided at an extra cost of $6 per person, but be sure to state that you want that included when making a reservation. There are also vending machines around the place with both hot and cold snacks available, and emergency toiletries as well. (shaving, shampoo all that kinda shit)
BONUS with this hotel is that all rooms are AIR CONDITIONED. With the February heat in Austraila being what it is…. this will come as a BLESSING!!!!
The Flinders Station hotel only provides oscillating pedestal fans and open windows, which if you’re not used to night temperatures between 17-23 degrees Celsius OUTSIDE in the open air, you may find it difficult to sleep without a full blown air con.
All in all, this place I would consider more upmarket than the Flinders Station, it isn’t considered a backpackers, just an inexpensive quality hotel without the luxuries. You DO get a tv in your room with PAY TV access if you’re in the mood for a little cable porn. Which reminds me…. they also have a self serve laundry facility available.
To sum up….This was a very good quality hotel for a very reasonable price.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next place…..
Comes with a Warning:
I would only stay here if I’d been robbed of everything else I owned and some bum just pissed in the last vacant garbage skip.
I am including a report on it here, purely for shits and giggles.
DO NOT STAY THERE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The Elephant Backpacker.
do a search on www.hostelworld.com for this one as they don’t have their own website built yet, that’s your first indication of how much this place is lacking.
Email: enquiries@elephantbackpacker.com
ph: +61 3 9654 2616
fax: +61 3 9663 7009
This one we WERE allowed to go up to check out a room and take a few photo’s.
Hardly worth it.
Let me just say this….
If you are an exhibitionist or a dirty perv, or both, this place might appeal to you.
If you value your privacy…steer clear of this one.
Below is a couple of photo’s Wrathchild took and let me just add….what you see is what you get and THAT’S ABOUT IT. Except for one thing. The photo of the twin room at $50.00AU per night doesn’t quite capture it all.
What it doesn’t capture….is the fact that none of the rooms actually have ceilings.
Like I said if you’re an exhibitionist or a dirty perv, this may just be akin to paradise for you…if not STEER THE HELL AWAY!!!
For you loving amorous couples visiting, who like to indulge in loving, amorous activities…. let me ASSURE you… EVERYONE on the entire floor will be treated to your performance for free. And the lucky ones with an adjoining room to yours may just be able to catch a front row seat for the floor show, should they want to stand on the end of their bed and take a peak over the wall.
Security wise…..pfft what F***ing security?
There is a lock on the door, and one of those school-style metal lockers in your room. However, since it’s not bolted to the floor as well, and should someone be stealthy, willing and able…you may find that when you come home, all your belongings have disappeared over the wall into the next room.
Bathrooms… well as you can see below, not the flashiest.
Well….if you are the dirty perv they may be, if you don’t mind there being no lock on the shower. Just a flimsy shower curtain separating you from the rest of the guests. Make sure you sing or make plenty of noise to let someone know you’re still naked in there.
Not much else to say except doubles and twin rooms are DEFINITELY not worth the $50.00 per night in fact I’d go so far as to call that, one very expensive joke. I’d even stretch out to say that without even having seen them, the single rooms are not worth the $40.00AU per night either.
But for those of you who are free spirited and uninhibited perhaps the $19.00AU per night with the exchange rate as it is for our overseas guests, it just MIGHT be worthwhile…..for a night…..maybe…..perhaps…..if you were desperate.
It wasn’t all bad. The guy at reception was just a wonderfully nice and helpful fella. Beautiful bloke.
But the hotel itself (if you can call it that) was just cheap and nasty, and I wouldn’t recommend it unless you were DESPERATE, or a little flamboyant and experimental in your tastes. Not that there’s anything wrong with that… more power to you. Enjoy.
Don’t believe it could possibly be that bad?….. Take a look, I have photographic proof.
If upon our next visit to the city (which seemed to be emo central on the day) we happen to find more cheap available accoms, we shall endeavor to get more information to you.
If you’re looking for the lap of luxury with room service and all the trimmings like you might get at The Ritz Carlton, The Hilton, Crown Towers or The Sheraton Hotel…. might I humbly suggest that Google is your friend… and the two of you should become more intimately acquainted.
BTW… for a good cheap healthy feed in the form of vegetarian curry with rice and pappadums, sticky date polenta puddin & custard for dessert, and drinks (lassi, cordial, water) for all you can eat at $6.50AU…. visit the Hari Krishna’s at Crossways on Swanston street. Good eatin at a good price.
I wonder if they put in a few extra "secret herbs and spices" we don't know about...
Caint wait!
